Hey! Wildfire9 here again! Now, this article is NOT exciting, BUT I hope it moves you. :)
Today was just an ordinary day at school. You know class books slamming, lockers clanging, lunch bell ringing. Lunch. Our little 30 minute lunch period can change everything. Say you like "so-and-so". Word gets out as soon as lunch started. "So-and so" likes you too. You get a boyfriend (or girlfriend) over lunch!
Now, not all things can be good. Word gets out that you said something about your best friend. Maybe you did. Maybe you didn't. She (or he) hates you anyway.
Now, let me get to the story here. (I can blab forever, so here it is...)
Not everyone is the same. Some are black, white, Hispanic, Asian... ( I could go on forever). Not everyone is Christian at my school, some are (I'll stop here, LoL) One girl, she's not popular, not a geek. She's not poor, not rich. Most of us can relate to her. She's not stuck up. She's not gullible. She's not a braniac, not stupid. She's just there. You know, sitting in the middle. Most of us are like that. Most of us.... Except for some. Now I'll tell you about the "some". Some of us like to go around and bully others. Because they're different from you, different from me....
Now back to the girl. She is a religion not many other are. She is Jehovah's Witness. In their religion, they don't celebrate holidays, not even their own birthdays. Now at school, we all celebrate holidays. Maybe for Halloween we have a haunted hallway through the school to raise money, and get a grab-bag gift. Even the simple things -- saying the Pledge in the morning for instance. The Pledge...
"And to the republic, for which it stands, One nation, under God"
"Under God"
"God"
This one little word. Three letters... God....
*sighs*
Back to the lunch bell.
*makes the best bell noise I can* Brrrring!
"Is it true?" "She what?!" Laughter and shouts ring through the cramped room.
One sentence is noticeable....
"How come you don't say the Pledge in the morning?" " Why aren't you in school on Valentine's day, Halloween...?" Why?" "Why?"
They sit. Quiet. Waiting for a reply. Waiting. Waiting...
Tears roll down the cheek.
She goes home that day, not wanting to go back to school. Just because she's different doesn't mean she's mean or weird or strange. She's the same as you, as me. But yet, we are all different. No one is the same. You have your own personality, style, and beliefs!
THIS IS WHY THE PILGRIMS CAME TO AMERICA! FOR RELIGIOUS FREEDOM! NOT TO BE DICTATED AND TOLD WHAT TO BELIEVE, OR WHAT NOT TO BELIEVE! IT STARTED WITH THEM! AMERICA WOULD NOT BE WHAT IT IS IF THEY NEVER TOOK THEIR TINY BOAT AND SET SAIL! RISKING THEIR LIVES! THAT'S WHAT MAKES AMERICA SO SPECIAL! IT'S THE LAND OF THE FREE, AND THE HOME OF THE BRAVE!
Now it's not just way back when. It's now! If you've seen the 1999 movie "Boys Don't Cry" or the made for TV movie that was on a while ago about a boy who was killed because (can I say this???) he was gay. Not just movies. September 11th. Jealousy. Freedom. America has it. Afghanistan didn't.
*Takes a deep breath* Well. Learn something. Yes you! I know I did, and I hope you did, too.
Thank you, City Hall. For giving us our Whyville freedom. We are free to be who we want to be. Free to learn.
Wildfire9
